The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ Nay, I swear by this city - 1 this land in which thou art free to dwell 2 And by the giver of birth, and whom he fathered, 3 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Did We not make two eyes for him? 8 And a tongue and a pair of lips? 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep. 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 It is the setting free of a slave 13 Or to feed in times of famine 14 An orphan, of kin, 15 Or to the poor man lying in the dust. 16 And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion. 17 Those who do so are the people of the right hand, 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 Upon them shall be a Fire that will hem them in. 20